William h



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. REIFF, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF IO WILLIAM F.

DUNCAN, OF SAM-E PLACE.

DETONATING BuRGLAe-ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 287,722, dated October 30, 1883.

v Application filed September 4, 1883. (No model.)

tion, reference being had therein to the ac-- companying drawings, wherein- Figurel is -an elevation of my improved burglar-alarm. Fig. 2 is a transverse verti-l cal section of same. Figs. 8 and4 are elevations illustrating different modes of placing the alarm in position for action upon a door or window; and Figs. and 6 are enlarged plans of the top or cap of the alarm, with perforations or slots formed therein.

My invention has relation to 'that class of l burglar-alarms wherein a cartridge or other 2o explosive agent is used to give the alarm; and it has for its object to provide a simple, cheap, durable," and effective alarm which may be used with perfect safety.

My' invention accordingly consists of the novel combination,A construction, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter specifically described and claimed, having reference particularly to the provision vof a cylindrical or tubu" lar casing having a slotted or perforated explosive chamber, with removable cap or top, and a bottom forming the cartridge seat, holder, or anvil-block. Beneath said chamber is another chamber having lateral openings, through which the cartridge is passed to the anvil or its seat, and carries a hammer or cartridge-exploder, which is maintained by a spring in contact with the cartridge, to keep it uponV its seat or anvil, so that when the alarm is dropped from an elevation or otherwise suitably manipulated to effect a concussion or penetration of the end of the hammer against or into the cartridge, it will explode and produce an alarm. Y

In the drawings, A represents the alarm, composed of a tubular ca se of any suitable configuration, having an upper chamber, B, with removable screw cap or `top b2, and a fixed bottom, b, with opening b', in which is inserted the cap or cartridge() or other suitable explosive agent which may be employed, said bottom b thereby forming the cartridge seat, holder, or anvil therefor. Below said seat is another chamber, G, having lateral openings g, for the passage of Vthe cartridge to its seat and to effect its withdrawal therefrom. The bottom g of chamber G has `an aperture, l@through which passes and slides up and down therein a hammer, D, surrounded by a spiral spring, d', which acts to keep the upper edge of said/ hammer in contactwith the head of the cartridge, and maintains it in positiouupon its seat or the anvil b.

When cartridges exploded by the penetration thereinto of a ring-pin are used, said pin is inserted into or formed on the upper edge of the hammer D and rests against the car; tridge, as more -plainly shown at d2, Fig. 1. Said hammer projects downwardly through the opening g2, and has an enlarged lower end or head, d, to contact with the ground-floor or other fixture, so as to obtain the necessary concussion or blow for exploding the cartridge.

The chamber B is slotted4 or perforated, as shown at b, Figs. 1 and V2, to provide an escape forthe reverberations of air produced by the explosion of the cartridge in chamber B, which serves, also, as a receptacle. 'for W'ads, sparks, o r other waste from the cartridge, thereby avoiding danger from'ire, and such waste may at suitable timesbe emptied from said chamber'by removing the screw-cap b2. The latter is provided with an eye or other-suitable device, b3, for the attachment of I a string orchain, a, by means of which the alarm may be suitably suspended from a door or window, 85, as desired. Said string or chain is preferably provided with or terminates in a ring, f, as shownin Fig. 4, so that it may be more readily secured in position. In Fig. 3 the alarm is shown suspended from a stick, I, having shoulders z' 11', the end of stick or pin I being inserted between the uprper edge ofthe doornH and-its frame, so that when the door is opened by burglars or others seeking unwarranted entrance the door impinges against the shoulderi of stick or pin I, -to release it and allow the alarm to fall, and the head dof hammer D, as it strikes the lloor or ground, causes the firing-pin d2 to penetrate into and explode the cartridge C.

In Fig. 4 the ring fis placed upon a pin, F, driven into the door, and from said ring pro` IOO ceeds a string, a', which is connected to the key h, as illustrated, so that when the latter is turned from the outside the string a is drawn downwardly, thereby sliding the ring 5 f oi the pin F, whereupon the alarm falls and explodes its cartridge, as above described.

The advantage of using the pin Fand string or connection a with key h is that' the alarm is given before the door is opened.

I have described my invention as being especially adapt-cd for use as a burglanalarm; but it is evident that it may be employed as a toy pistol for exploding caps and eartridges. 

